According to Marcelo Rodriguez, president of the UAR, Michael Cheika "is the best option for Argentina at the moment, because of his career, his experience and the affection he has for the Pumas".

"He's the best candidate for this job," he said.

A source within the federation had already revealed that the choice of the UAR had fallen on Michael Cheika, 55, after the decision in February of Ledesma, former hooker of Castres and especially of Clermont, who led the Argentine selection since 2018, to return his apron, evoking the end of a "cycle".

World rugby globetrotter and former Australia coach Cheika, who worked with Ledesma as an adviser, said via videoconference he was "honored to have been chosen to take over from Mario" and confessed that he "admires Argentine players".

Prior to this appointment, he was the head coach of the Green Rockets Tokatsu in Japan's professional rugby league.

wandering career

During a wandering and eclectic career, Michael Cheika, a 55-year-old Australian of Lebanese origin, notably coached the Irish province of Leinster from 2005 to 2010, the Stade Français (2010-2012), the Australian Waratahs, before being coach of the Wallabies from 2014 to 2019.

He left office in October 2019 after Australia lost in the quarter-finals of the World Cup against England (40-16).

In the previous edition, the Wallabies had reached the final, losing against New Zealand (34-17).

Australian coach Michael Cheika speaks to his players before their World Cup quarter-final against England on October 19, 2019 in Oita (Japan) CHARLY TRIBALLEAU AFP / Archives

At the end of 2020, Michael Cheika had been an adviser to the Argentine Pumas led by Ledesma.

Then he was appointed coach of the Lebanese rugby league selection, before joining the Green Rockets in 2021.

A former third line player, Cheika notably played as a three-year player in France between 1989 and 1992 (at Castres Olympique and CASG Paris).

The announcement of Ledesma's resignation came a few months after a heavy defeat against Ireland (53-7) at the end of November, the heaviest of his term, signing a record of eight wins, three draws and twenty-two defeats, i.e. a success rate of 29%, despite a first prestigious victory against the All Blacks.

At the 2023 World Cup, Argentina will want to erase the failure of elimination in the first round in 2019. It will play in a very strong group, with England, Japan, Samoa and a team from the qualifications of the Americas zone.

© 2022 AFP